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Everybody is doing it. Right?

My mom and I were sitting down talking today as she showed me all her new articles about me and the team – like I don’t know what is going on with the NCAA and the media’s relentless persecution of The Ohio State Football Program. As she rambled on about the articles she read and pre-season magazines (lol, I know it’s pretty real in the Moeller household), we came across video of The Ray Small TV interview where he retracted his words after saying all those things about The Ohio State and our team. This got me thinking… with all this continuous DRAMA surrounding the program, I had decided to stay out of it by not say anything publicly, which is why I deleted my Facebook page and have not been blogging… today I changed my mind.

I think many people, because of this new age of social media, have this perception that there is this big underground black market of Ohio State Football memorabilia sold by CURRENT Ohio State football players. People believe we live our “lavish” lifestyles because of special discounts and selling of personal items. I guess if Ray Small is a credible resource to get all your information from then these are probably a figment of your imagination….

…and yea, IF you think someone else was a good person to get information from, than you are probably jealous of my “lavish” lifestyle that includes going without AC in my Olentangy Commons luxurious apartment for over a month, yep… pretty lavish.

I could talk in depth about the allegations by the NCAA which were SELF REPORTED, but I don’t think the NCAA or Ohio State would appreciate it but still, I would though like to point out a few things:

1. Coach Tressel is a better person than most people can ever dream about becoming and has helped me grow as a person since my first day at Ohio State. Yes, he made a mistake that has been blown out of proportion, but one mistake does not define a person. It’s funny, I walked into church last Sunday to find Coach Tress worshipping in the front row – 20 minutes early so he could give a speech to our group because a student intern asked him if he would come talk to us. That is just one of the things he does all the time that people don’t see. They don’t see the 1000’s of hours he has spent with young children, sick patients, our armed forces, etc… Sadly, many just see a coach in a sweater vest that “lied”. They miss the great man that gives back to the world 24/7 and helps young kids like me grow into men; even the ones that everyone had already given up on like Ray Small.

2. To the Gold Pant’s Committee: We treasure our gold pant’s and UNDERSTAND the depth of what they mean, look at our record.

3. I drive a car my parents bought (my uncles old car) and they pay for my cell phone bill, car insurance, and health insurance. I live off campus in a dump apartment that hasn’t had screens in the windows or sliding door since we moved in while the AC has been broke for a month. I haven’t been out on the town socially in over a year and thankfully, my girlfriend isn’t into that knight and shining armour 50’s bullcrap, so we usually split the bill 50/50 when we do go out to dinner. Still, because I live in Columbus full time for school and football, by the end of the summer I’m often asking my parents to help me out a little.

4. ^ In reference to Number four many kids that come into the program are not fortunate enough to have the support system that I do. I understand their hardship and until you walk in their shoes, maybe you shouldn’t judge them so harshly on mistakes they make when they are young. Additionally, I understand that NCAA rules are in place for a purpose, but can you imagine being a player and watching calendars and photo’s of yourself being sold and auctioned off for lots of money, but you can’t even get a picture yourself to hang on your personal wall unless you pay for it at full retail? If I bought one from the dispatch I would have to pay $14.99 for a 5×7 of myself? Is that right?

5. You can take what I said out of context or you can say whatever you want because your basketball bench riding career is over and you have to talk about this stuff to keep to veiwers. I totally understand that keeping the drama alive keeps the $$$$ rolling in and your boss happy. It’s okay, I understand, WE understand and it’s not going to break us, you’ll see.

I agree with you Tyler. When my best friend was in the hospital with cancer (he was a former OSU player in 1965) Coach Tressel called him several times to see how he was doing. He also sent flowers to a friends funeral – he didn’t need to do those things. By the way, that friend of mine and I watched some of your first practices when you were a wee freshman at OSU. Being an ex-linebacker and football coach (Tom) was very impressed with the way you always stuck your nose in there. He new you were going to be a terrific player.
In addition to the perks that some people DO NOT get. I remember walking back (not riding in some fancy car) with Zach Boren (one of my former students) to the Woody Hayes facility. He didn’t have a car there and was going to need to get a ride with someone else. I thought it was interesting that we just walked through campus together and he didn’t think twice about having to walk back to the facility.
I think it has more to do (as you said) with how a person was brought up before they got to OSU. If they felt entitled before they got there, then they probably are looking for things from other people. I know that Zach and many others would never consider asking for extra things, because that was not the way he was raised.
Anyway, I hope that all goes well for you and please keep an eye on Zach and Jaime for me. There grades are good but not anywhere near where I expect them to be. Mike from Picktown.

Awesome job Tyler. As a fanbase we can not wait to have the heart and passion you wrote this article with back on the field this Fall. The core group of this team, you Brew, Stony, and others are quickly becoming my favorite Buckeyes ever. Let the hate fuel your fire. Blow everybody up and out this year!

Oh come let’s sing Ohio’s praise
And songs to Alma Mater raise
While our hearts rebounding thrill
With joy which death alone can still
Summer’s heat or winter’s cold
The seasons pass the years will roll
Time and change will surely (truly) show
How firm thy friendship … OHIO!

THANK YOU TYLER!!! Thank you for taking the time to do this, thank you for everything that you do for The Ohio State University, Thank you for keeping it real. Most great coaches do good things that NEVER get noticed, but mess up one time and it’s all over. Coach Hayes was the same way. He helped so many people behind closed doors, and as soon as he messed up one time it was all over. I understand totally what you are saying about the athletes today. Some are fortunate and some are less fortunate. We cannot fathom what those less fortunate have to deal with unless we walk in their shoes. My family and I live in Knoxville Tn and come up to as many games as possible. This will not stop. We support our University and it’s many programs including the football program. Thank you for making a difference.

It was very refreshing to read what you wrote, and I am happy that you took the time to cover a lot of different viewpoints, but primarily that of the average college student. As a supporter of Coach Tressel and seeing how hard you all work, I couldn’t be prouder of how you guys represent The Ohio State University. Haters will hate, and the media will keep on rolling with new “breaking info” or whatever they choose to call it, but your teammates dedication to each other and to your Coach will keep the train rolling and everyone that calls themselves a member of the Ohio State family will be proud. Go Bucks!!!!

P.S.- HUGE fan of yours. You have been one of my favorite players since you stepped foot on special teams! Keep working hard to get back on the field, man.

Tyler I am soooooo glad u came back to us. I know the time is hard but WE will come back. What you say is nicely written and right on. Like mom always said don’t judge a book by its cover. Tress is a great coach and man. Mistakes are just that but what defines us is how we learn from them and become better for them. Thank you for your committment to yourself, your family,your school and our team. It takes tremendous courage to face adversity straight on and stand proud for what is right. May God continue to Bless you and yours. Always a Buckeye…Cheryl

Well said, Mr. Moeller. Reading this post it is obvious that you are not just a guided missile on the field, but a very articulate and passionate young man off it. Thank you for your heartfelt defense of Coach Tressel, whom I admire in spite of his mistake, and whom I hope will recover from it and lead the Scarlet and Gray to many more victories!

Somehow Tyler I don’t think this is salacious enough to make it in the lantern or espin. But I wish the whole nation could see what you have written about our coach as you have described him is how I also see him. And yes not one instance is the defining moment in a man or womans life But as it was lived as a whole. There are not many of his caliber left and it pains me to see those that have nothing better to do crucify him. As for you young man this was well written and I’m sure your parents are very proud of you. Looking forward to seeing you play this year best of luck to you!!!!!!!!! Oh nice hardware.

Let me first give a shout out to your parents, who obviously have done a great job. As a Buckeye fan who doesn’t even want to turn on ESPN anymore – thanks for saying what most of us are thinking. You’re right too – you have a good support system to handle cell phone bills, cars, etc, but so many top athletes don’t. The NCAA really needs to look at reality and adjust for the 2010s instead of living in the 1950s.

Well said young man. I am a Buckeye fan for life. I believe coach Tress had his reasons for handling things the way he did. People think you guys have it easy. Truth is you guys have worked your butts off even to get to play for The Ohio State University. Thank you for shedding light on this subject, and I would offer to fix your AC, but I’m sure there would be a NCAA violation in helping a fellow human being out. And last but not least–Go Bucs!!!!!!

This ladies and gentleman are the type of men Jim Tressel has playing for him and if you cannot be proud and stand by men like Tyler and the other players and coaches on this team especially Coach Tress you are and idiot.These kids and coaches deserve Buckeye Nation to support them they are classy and just good people. Thank You Tyler and thank your mom and dad because they raised a great young man.

A well written commentary of a situation which has grown out of control about a person who is receiving lots of arrows from folks who are “brain dead”.
Thank you for your comments… I think more individuals with positive statements need to come forward….

Great post, Tyler. There are a lot of people out there who truly respect you, your teammates, and Coach Tressel’s and the staff’s hard work. Thanks for putting your words out there, and for fighting so hard to be there for the team this year. Have a great season. And best of luck in everything you pursue in life.

Tyler first of all it makes me proud to see my brothers stand up for what we all truely stand for. Thank you for speaking up and everything you said is so very true! I love being a buckeye as I know you do too! Nobody will ever be able to bring our family down and we will always rise to the top through good times and bad. I hope everything is well for you for I know you have had plenty of adversity to handle. You are a true buckeye with such a huge heart! Good luck and hope all is well! Thanks for being who you are.

Thanks, Tyler, for sharing your heart felt comments with us. WE (the true Buckeys) do understand. Yes, our coach is a Godly man. JT will be vindicated through all this, and those “talking heads” will reap what they sow.

Can not believe this is your last year here…make it your best! You will make a great captain!! Go Bucks..and “Be strong and courageous.”

You tell ’em Tyler!! Noone sees the effort Tress and you put forth during my son’s extended stay at a hospital here in North Carolina. The signed pictures and even a personal email really made him simle. He took great console knowing others’ cared and knowing how you were able to make it through your situation so well. And I know he was just one of many. It sure made a difference for him! It’s comforting to know that there’s a huge Buckeye Family out there to lean on when times get tough.

Great perspective.. Tyler I have a quick story. I sat with Troy Smith and Jake Ballard at the Agonis dinner, in Troy’s heisman season. When the coaches were introducing all of the players, and they called your name… Troy looked at me and said… (about you) He is the man…dude is gonna be a good one.

I always think about that when I watch you play. Stay healthy this year and bust some heads.
Go Bucks!

I grew up in Mississippi and watched the Bucks whenever I could. Never thought I would go to school at TOSU but low and behold as I graduated high schoold my parents moved to Columbus OH. I got my chance to go and it has been great ever since. Thank you for your story it brought tears to my eyes and I felt it in my heart. You are the kind of student/athlete we are proud of at TOSU. Love reading about how you keep coming back from your own personal adversity and being a better student/athlete from it. You are a “True Buckeye” and you make TOSU what it is today. Thanks!! Could touch with the bling.

You know what’s wrong with this situation? No accountability. You’d rather a proven cheater keep his job because he’s nice and his sweater vest is soft when he hugs people. It’s not as though there’s ambiguity within this case, jt has a proven track record for having questionable things taking place at his school: clarett, Troy smith, tatgate, Isaac case at YSU.

There are also numerous occasions where players have run afoul of the law and he’s done nothing (tatgate, Derek ross’ arrest, bellisari’s DUI, arden’s DUI, pagac’s disorderly conduct, and many more). Tressel has proven that he would rather play these players than stand by his ‘morales’ and keep them suspended.

How are these facts a product of “DRAMA” or sensationalism? Tressel runs a shoddy program and he is just getting his comeuppance. Deal with it

Kai, the NCAA knows very well the climate that these student athletes perform in. I can only imagine that if you were to construct a time line for all of the perennial powers of college football (say Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, Florida, USC, etc.)l they’d look very similar. Youthful exuberance often runs afoul of law and regulation. Any coach is called to task and made accountable for the actions of his players. No coach can control the actions of 100 young men on a football team. It’s impossible to do. Tressel has done a remarkable job with the athletes place in his care and keeping. For you and others to vilify him and label him a crook that runs a “shoddy program” is even beneath someone like you.

Unfortunately, Tress’s only sin was “he got caught.” All the major programs do it. Just don’t get caught.

Your little time line took some time and effort. Good work. Who’s next? You’d be better served if you went after the real criminals, the NCAA. I’d love too see that time line.

Thanks Tyler, I hope more players speak up publicly for the Coach, the team, the program, and each other – the proud players of THE Ohio State University who work their tails off and do things the right way.

“the media’s relentless persecution of The Ohio State Football Program.”

This is silly. The coach of a big time program covered up major violations and knowingly played ineligible players. It is a legit story. Don’t blame the media.

I know Tress has been great to you. I’m sure he has done some nice things for you. That doesn’t change the FACT that he is a very, very dishonest man and that is something you need to come to terms with.

November 17, 1987: Ohio State fires head coach Earle Bruce after three straight losses. Four days later, Bruce’s final game as head coach is a win in Ann Arbor over Michigan.

December 31, 1987: Arizona State head coach John Cooper is hired by Ohio State to replace Bruce. Conventional wisdom says Cooper became the most appealing candidate to Ohio State because of his victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl 364 days earlier.

Spring, 1988: Quarterback and Youngstown native Ray Issac arrives at Youngstown State. Around this time, Tressel introduces Issac to Michael Monus, chairman of the Board of Trustees at Youngstown State and CEO of the drug store chain Phar-Mor. During their first meeting, Monus gives Issac 150 dollars, the first of what will become a habitual series of payments that will total roughly $10,000.

December 21, 1991: Isaac quarterbacks Youngstown State to a 25-17 win over Marshall in the I-AA National Championship Game.

July, 1992: Youngstown State chairman Michael Monus is indicted on fraud and embezzlement charges related to cooking the books at his drug store chain, Phar-Mor. The case would become known as one of the largest cases of corporate fraud in U.S. history. During the course of the investigation, Monus’s relationship with Ray Isaac is brought to light. Tressel says he has no knowledge of Monus’s payments to Isaac.

January, 1994: The NCAA delivers a notice of allegations to Youngstown State. Tressel, along with Youngstown State Athletic Director Joe Malsimur and Youngstown State President Leslie Cochran assure the NCAA that they will conduct a thorough internal investigation into the matter. This turns out to be a sham, as Malsimur never contacts Monus, and Tressel never speaks to Isaac. In December 2003, Tressel would claim that he can’t recall whether or not he talked to Isaac about the allegations. Isaac says he never spoke to anyone.

December 18, 1995: Michael Monus is convicted of one count of conspiracy, two counts of bank fraud, five counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, two counts of filing false income tax returns, 96 counts of interstate transportation of stolen goods, and one count of obstruction of justice. He is sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison. Shortly before this, Monus and Isaac are both implicated in the bribing of a juror in Monus’s first trial, which resulted in a hung jury. During this time, Isaac reaches out to Tressel for help, but Tressel distances himself, saying he doesn’t want to know anything and Isaac should simply cooperate with authorities.

November 23, 1996: #21 Michigan, losers of their previous two games, beats 2nd-ranked and undefeated Ohio State 13-9 in Columbus, making this the third time in four years that Michigan has ruined an undefeated season for the Buckeyes. It is at this particular game in 1996 that Ohio State fans openly rebel against John Cooper, hurling insults and obscenities at him as he leaves the field.

March 4, 1998: During the course of Michael Monus’s trial for jury tampering, more rules violations are exposed at Youngstown State. The NCAA accuses Youngstown State with lack of institutional control, one of the most serious violations in the NCAA. The NCAA determines that Youngstown State’s internal investigation in 1994 was not thorough or in-depth.

February 28, 2000: The NCAA concludes its investigation, accepting Youngstown State’s self-imposed penalties, which include a reduction of two scholarships in 2000-2001, 2001-2002, and 2002-2003. Because the NCAA’s statute of limitations expired in 1996, they cannot take away Youngstown State’s 1991 National Championship. The NCAA also chooses not to sanction Tressel.

January 2, 2001: John Cooper is fired by Ohio State the day after losing to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. Cooper finishes his career at Ohio State with a 3-8 bowl record and a 2-10-1 record against Michigan.

January 17, 2001: Ohio State hires Jim Tressel away from Youngstown State to replace John Cooper as head coach. The next day, during halftime of the Michigan-Ohio State basketball game, Tressel delivers his famous line that has become Ohio State lore: “I can assure you that you will be proud of our young people in the classroom, in the community and most especially in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Michigan.”

January 20, 2001: Youngstown native Maurice Clarett, the star rusher for Harding High School in Warren (14 miles northwest of Youngstown) and the #1 running back recruit in the country, commits to play for Jim Tressel at Ohio State.

March 21, 2001: Ohio State cornerback Derek Ross is arrested on charges of driving without a license and providing false information to police. He is sentenced to 30 days in jail and suspended for the spring, but returns for the season and leads the Big Ten in interceptions.

November 15, 2001: Ohio State quarterback Steve Bellisari is arrested for driving drunk two days before OSU’s game against Illinois. Tressel suspends him, only to reinstate him and allow him to play in the team’s bowl game.

November 24, 2001: Tressel makes good on the promise he made 10 months earlier as Ohio State beats Michigan 26-20 in Ann Arbor. During the game, Maurice Clarett takes an official visit to Michigan on UM’s dime, and spends the game on the Ohio State sideline cheering for the Buckeyes.

March 2, 2002: Ohio State tight end Redgie Arden is arrested for drunk driving. He spends three days in jail and is suspended from spring practices. Tressel reinstates him before the season and he plays in 11 games in 2002.

April 27, 2002: Ohio State linebacker Marco Cooper is arrested for felony drug abuse and carrying a concealed weapon. In November, he pleads out and is put on probation.

July 26, 2002: Ohio State fullback Branden Joe is discovered asleep in his car on a highway ramp near Ohio State’s campus. He refuses a breathalyzer test, and is suspended for three weeks of preseason camp, along with the first game of the 2002 season.

July 29, 2002: Ohio State wide receiver Angelo Chattams is suspected of being involved in a theft, but prosecutors allow him to enter a program for first-time offenders and avoid a criminal charge. He is excused from the team, but never suspended.

August 17, 2002: Ohio State defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock is arrested for underage drinking. He is suspended for three weeks of offseason workouts, but is not suspended for any games.

August 24, 2002: Ohio State wide receiver Chris Vance is arrested for underage drinking. He is held out of the first two games, and goes on to be Ohio State’s 4th leading receiver in the 2002 season.

October 13, 2002: Ohio State linebacker Fred Pagac, Jr. is arrested for persistant disorderly conduct. Arrested at 3:45 AM, police say he was intoxicated and had a role in a fight involving two women, and did not stop fighting when ordered by police. He is suspended for one game, and is allowed to play in the National Championship Game against Miami in January.

October 30, 2002: Ohio State long snapper Kurt Wilhelm is arrested for felonious assault. He is held out of Ohio State’s game against Penn State.

April, 2003: Maurice Clarett files a report stating that a car he borrowed from a local dealership was broken into and thousands of dollars in cash, CDs, stereo equipment, and clothing was stolen. Clarett calls the police from a phone in Jim Tressel’s office. He is later charged with lying about the value of the items and falsification of a police report. He pleads guilty, is ordered to pay a fine, and does no jail time.

May, 2003: Ohio State cornerback/receiver Chris Gamble and nine other players are ruled ineligible for signing autographs at a convention, during which they took an hourly salary.

June, 2003: Ohio State tight end Redgie Arden pleads innocent to his second drunk driving charge in 15 months.

Fall, 2003: The NCAA begins an investigation at Ohio State amid allegations of academic fraud and ineligibility. The investigation revolves around Maurice Clarett, and a teacher admits that Clarett received preferential treatment. The teacher is fired, and Clarett is found to be in violation of 14 conduct bylaws, two violations of receiving extra benefits because he is an athlete. The investigation also discovers that the Monte Carlo Clarett is driving was a loaner from a used-car lot. To make things worse, and forcing Ohio State’s hand, is the fact that Clarett was regularly receiving benefits from Youngstown acquaintance Bobby Dellimuti. Dellimuti provided Clarett with 500 dollars in cash, and paid for thousands of dollars worth in cell phone bills for Clarett. Ohio State suspends him for the entire 2003 season. It is later revealed that Jim Tressel knew Dellimuti and knew who he was before Clarett’s freshman season in 2002.

October 27, 2003: Ohio State tight end Louis Irizarry is arrested on three counts of first-degree misdemeanor assault. He is suspended two days later, and is found guilty of one count of assault, one count of negligent assault, and one count of disorderly conduct. He is put on probation, and is listed as second on the depth chart at tight end on Ohio State’s spring 2004 roster.

November 16, 2003: Ohio State wide receiver Santonio Holmes and quarterback Troy Smith are arrested six days before the Michigan game on charges of misdemeanor disorderly conduct after a fight on campus in the early morning hours following Ohio State’s win over Purdue. Holmes is held out of the starting lineup against Michigan, but plays the majority of the game and catches two touchdowns.

April, 2004: Ohio State fullback Branden Joe is cited for a misdemeanor open container violation, his second alcohol-related offense.

May 1, 2004: Ohio State tight end Louis Irizarry and cornerback Ira Guilford are arrested and charged with robbery after a student is assaulted and his wallet is stolen at 3 AM. They both plead innocent, and Guilford is released on bond, while Irizarry is held until the determination can be made whether or not he violated his probation from his October 2003 conviction.

May 5, 2004: Ohio State punter A.J. Trapasso is charged with underage drinking.

May 17, 2004: Ohio State punter A.J. Trapasso is arrested for underage drinking for the second time in 12 days.

June 7, 2004: Ohio State tight end Louis Irizarry is arrested for criminal trespassing after police pull him over and discover he has been banned from the campus of Ohio State.

October 23, 2004: Ohio State running back Lydell Ross is arrested for attempting to pass fake money to a woman at a gentlemen’s club.

November 9, 2004: Maurice Clarett blows the whistle on Ohio State, attempting to expose all of the alleged corruption going on at his former school. He claims he “took the fall” during the 2003 investigation into his academics at Ohio State, and is now trying to clear his name. Clarett says that Jim Tressel arranged for Clarett to have access to several loaner vehicles, and that Tressel’s brother Dick set up lucrative jobs that Clarett did not have to show up to. He also says that members of Tressel’s staff introduced Clarett to boosters who provided him with cash benefits based on his performance on the field. Clarett says he would have been ineligible for the 2002 season, but that the Ohio State coaching staff set him up with an academic advisor whose only goal was to keep him eligible. He claims the academic advisor put him in Independent Study courses with hand-picked teachers who would pass him regardless of attendance. His allegations are corroborated by former Ohio State linebacker Marco Cooper. Cooper, who was kicked off the team because of multiple drug-related arrests, says he too was set up with fraudulent jobs and was provided with cars in exchange for signed memorabilia. Clarett says he is blowing the whistle on Ohio State because he feels they “blackballed” him from the university after suspending him for the 2003 season.

October 12, 2004: Louis Irizarry is sentenced to three years in prison.

December 20, 2004: Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith is suspended for the Alamo Bowl and the 2005 season opener for accepting $500 from a booster.

December 21, 2004: Ohio State wide receiver Albert Dukes is arrested on two felony counts of second-degree lewd and lascivious conduct involving a 12 year old girl. Tressel allows Dukes to travel with the team to the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, and the charges are later dropped when the parents refuse to let their daughter testify in court.

February 16, 2005: The NCAA reprimands Ohio State offensive line coach Jim Bollman for trying to set up a recruit with a car, a loan, and a tutor. Jim Tressel is also reprimanded because Bollman is his subordinate.

May 11, 2005: Ohio State kicker Jonathan Skeete is arrested for drug trafficking. He is suspended.

May 19, 2005: Ohio State running back Erik Haw is cited by university police for smoking marijuana outside a dorm.

May 21, 2005: Ohio State lineman Tim Schafer is charged with disorderly conduct after police had to break up two fights between Schafer and another man. Both men were bloody and smelled of alcohol.

July 20, 2005: Ohio State athletic officials investigate a possible second NCAA rules violation by quarterback Troy Smith. Smith attended a quarterbacks camp run by Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair, but because Ohio State runs on quarters instead of semesters, Smith may have missed class to attend, which would be an NCAA violation. Jim Tressel declines comment, saying the university’s compliance department has not finished its inquiry.

December 6, 2005: Police say that Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk and center Nick Mangold reported a burglary at their apartment following their win over Michigan. According to the police report, the robbery took place sometime between 6:00 PM on November 22 and 8:00 PM on November 23rd. Hawk and Mangold tell police that $3000 in cash, $1425 in movies, two laptop computers, a $500 Gucci watch, and $750 worth of PlayStation and X-Box equipment was stolen. Police were not told about the crime until November 28.

December 22, 2005: Ohio State offensive lineman Andree Tyree is suspended from the Fiesta Bowl for a violation of team rules. It is later revealed that Tyree failed his third drug test.

March 7, 2006: Former Ohio State kicker Jonathan Skeete returns to the team as a walk-on following his arrest on drug trafficking charges in May 2005. He was convicted in October 2005, and despite his status as a convicted felon, he is readmitted to the university and reinstated to the football team.

April 2, 2006: Ohio State offensive lineman Alex Boone is arrested after driving under the influence and being involved in a two-vehicle crash. Jim Tressel says that Boone will not be suspended for any practices or games.

August 9, 2006: Ohio State tight end Marcel Frost is suspended for the 2006 season for violating team rules. Although the athletic department refuses to comment on the nature of the violation, spokesman Dan Wallenberg says Frost will remain on scholarship and be eligible to return in 2007.

September 18, 2007: Ohio State wide receiver Ray Small is arrested for driving with a suspended license.

September 24, 2007: Ohio State quarterback Antonio Henton is arrested for soliciting a prostitute.

December 12, 2007: Jeannette, Pennsylvania businessman Ted Sarniak is cleared of allegations of bribery as a result of police opting not to arrest Sarniak in October 2006 when he crashed his car into a utility pole following the Jeannette-Catholic Central football game. Sarniak smelled of alcohol, but was not taken into custody. Though cleared of the bribery accusations, Sarniak has a documented history of providing Pittsburgh Steelers football tickets and other gifts to police officers in Jeannette.

December 20, 2007: Ohio State cornerback Eugene Clifford is suspended for violating team rules.

January 17, 2008: The night before heralded Jeannette quarterback Terrelle Pryor takes an official visit to Michigan, Ohio State coaches have dinner with Jeannette businessman Ted Sarniak, who is a friend and mentor to Pryor.

March 19, 2008: Terrelle Pryor signs with Ohio State.

April 11, 2008: Ohio State defensive backs Eugene Clifford, Jamario O’Neal, and Donald Washington are held out of practice but not officially suspended. It is rumored that all three players failed drug tests.

July 7, 2008: Ohio State defensive back Eugene Clifford’s career at OSU ends, as he is arrested again, this time for assault after allegedly punching two men in the face. He transfers to Tennessee State later in the month.

July 26, 2008: Ohio State defensive tackle Doug Worthington is arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He misses no game action in the 2008 season.

December 11, 2008: Ohio State defensive end Nathan Williams is arrested for shoplifting. He receives no punishment other than “internal” from the coaches.

February 2, 2009: Ohio State offensive lineman Alex Boone is arrested after being belligerant and uncooperative with police while he jumps on car hoods in a drunken tirade. Boone flees from police, who find him under a patio and have to taze him to subdue him.

June 11, 2009: Ohio State running back recruit Jaamal Berry is arrested for felony possession of marijuana in Miami. He pleas down and agrees to take a six-month drug program online in exchange for having the charges dropped. He is allowed to enroll at Ohio State and join the football team without issue.

September 9, 2009: It is discovered that violations were committed during Ohio State’s recruitment of quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Pryor’s official visit to Ohio State for the game against Wisconsin in 2007 came with a discounted hotel rate. The other violation involves former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith working at an Ohio State football camp in the summer of 2007, during which time Smith encourages Pryor to pick Ohio State. As a result of the hotel violation, Pryor is quietly ruled ineligible in August 2009 until he repays $158. Ohio State files a request to the NCAA to reinstate Pryor on August 21, and he regains his eligibility in time for the season opener on August 30.

April 2, 2010, 2:32 PM: Jim Tressel receives an email from Chris Cicero, a Columbus attorney. Cicero informs Tressel that several players have been selling signed items to tattoo parlor owner Edward Rife, who is under heavy investigation from the authorities on suspicion of drug trafficking. Rife informs Tressel of all of this, and details Rife’s criminal history.

April 2, 2010, 6:32 PM: Tressel responds to Cicero’s email, telling him he will “get on it ASAP.”

April 16, 2010, 11:20 AM: Tressel responds to Cicero once more: “I hear you!! It is unbelievable!! Thanks for your help keep me posted as to what I need to do if anything. I will keep pounding these kids hoping they grow up. jt”

April 16, 2010, 2:26 PM: Cicero recommends that Tressel ban his players from going to the tattoo parlor and having any contact with Rife. He asks that Tressel keep their email communication private.

June 1, 2010, 7:33 AM: Tressel emails Cicero, informing him that the team will be receiving their 2009 Big Ten Championship rings, and asks if there are anymore names that Cicero can give him.

June 1, 2010, 4:09 PM: Cicero tells Tressel he has no new names, but that the names he gave him previously “are still good.”

June 6, 2010, 9:15 PM: Five days later, Tressel thanks Cicero in what is their last known communication.

September 13, 2010: Jim Tressel signs an NCAA certificate of compliance, which indicates that he has reported any knowledge of any violations.

December 7, 2010: Authorities contact Ohio State, notifying them that they have raided Rife’s tattoo parlor, and discovered several Ohio State items. The authorities, obviously unaware of any NCAA implications, are simply inquiring as to whether or not the items may have been stolen. The Ohio State athletic department is notified of this the next day.

December 9, 2010: Jim Tressel is informed that federal officials know about the items. Tressel still does not inform his superiors of his email exchanges with Chris Cicero. During the next week, Ohio State plans an internal investigation into the matter.

December 17, 2010: Ohio State informs the Big Ten and the NCAA that they are preparing to self-report violations.

December 19, 2010: Ohio State releases its report, and declares the six players ineligible.

December 21, 2010: The NCAA contacts the six players, asking for additional information. Ohio State provides this information the next day.

December 22, 2010: The NCAA notifies Ohio State of its decision: 5-game suspensions for Pryor, Herron, Posey, Adams, and Thomas, and one game for Whiting. Incredulously, all six players are allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl on January 4.

January 13, 2011: Ohio State’s office of legal affairs stumble upon Tressel’s email correspondence with Chris Cicero. They conduct a search of the email accounts of all members of the football staff, and discover that no one else knew of the players’ contact with Edward Rife before December 2010.

January 16, 2011: Jim Tressel is questioned by Ohio State officials, and he acknowledges his contact with Chris Cicero.

February 2, 2011: Ohio State offensive lineman recruit Chris Carter is arrested the day before Signing Day on a charge of sexual imposition. He is accused of fondling up to eight girls at his high school under the pretense of measuring them for ROTC uniforms. Despite having a confession from Carter, authorities drop the charges five days later, and Carter is allowed to sign with Ohio State.

February 8, 2011: During an interview with NCAA and Ohio State officials, Jim Tressel admits that he knew violations were committed when he did not report what Cicero told him.

March 7, 2011: Yahoo! Sports reports that a source has told them that Jim Tressel knew of the violations in April 2010 and did not tell anyone else. Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith accelerates the process of the completion of the university’s self-report.

March 8, 2011: Ohio State releases its report, disclosing Tressel’s violation and announcing a two-game suspension and $250,000 fine for the head coach.

March 17, 2011: Ohio State and Jim Tressel announce that the two-game suspension will be increased to five.

March 25, 2011: It is revealed that Jim Tressel in fact didn’t keep the email correspondence with Chris Cicero all to himself. He forwarded the emails to Ted Sarniak, the Jeannette businessman with an affinity for giving gifts to police officers, and friend and mentor of Terrelle Pryor from Pryor’s days as the #1 recruit in the nation at Jeannette High School.

April 25, 2011: The NCAA delivers a notice of allegations to Ohio State and Tressel, accusing Tressel of failing to “deport himself in accordance with the honesty and integrity normally associated with the conduct and administration of intercollegiate athletics as required by NCAA legislation and violated ethical-conduct legislation when he failed to report information concerning violations of NCAA legislation and permitted football student-athletes to participate in intercollegiate athletics competition while ineligible.”

May 1, 2011: Ohio State linebacker Dorian Bell is suspended for the entire 2011 season for an unspecified violation of team rules, with all rumors pointing to a persistant marijuana issue. Bell immediately leaves school with the intent to transfer; his hometown Pitt Panthers turn him away.

May 7, 2011: The Columbus Dispatch reports that Ohio State will investigate used-car purchases by dozens of Ohio State athletes at two Columbus car dealerships. The Dispatch discovers that at least eight athletes and 11 athletes’ relatives bought used cars from two specific dealerships during the past five years.

May 23, 2011: Former Ohio State basketball player Mark Titus posts a lengthy blog post detailing his eyewitness accounts of “an unusually high volume of brand new Dodge Chargers driving around on campus, and just about all of them had tinted windows and rims on the outside with Ohio State football players behind the wheel on the inside.”

May 25, 2011: Former Ohio State receiver Ray Small tells the Ohio State student newspaper that he sold items for cash during his time at Ohio State, and he also mentions that “the best deals came from the car dealerships.” After facing blistering criticism from former and current Ohio State players, in addition to Ohio State fans, Small backtracks on his story, saying the newspaper twisted his words.

May 27, 2011: Ohio State announces that it will not disclose the correspondence between Jim Tressel and the Jeannette businessman, Ted Sarniak.

Tremendous research by the previous poster….too bad it doesn’t tell me one thing about Jim Tressel expect he has coached players that have made mistakes. It doesn’t tell me about the type of people they were when those mistakes were made, nor does it tell me that all of them love Jim Tressel for staying behind them even after leaving the program.

Its people like you that don’t know the man that look at these incidents and have no idea the truth behind any of it, and make assumptions just so you can write a story.

So congrats on compiling your info, you simply have proven to the people that know the man, how truly great he is.

Kai – I hope you copy and pasted this ridiculous post rather than wasting your time typing it. I can compile an equally long post for every program in the NCAA, showing all the violations players/teams have committed.

JT made a mistake, OSU is moving on, I suggest you do the same. The only reason this story is even alive is because the national media knows they get views and clicks from morons like you. The Ray Small story is a joke…as the folks in Columbus know…the dealership story has been proven to not be true…all crappy journalism…

Some of your info is FALSE. Why was Maurice Clarett at the OSU Mich game LAST year as a guest of Tressel’s? Or why has he enrolled in classes at OSU? I would think if any of that was true he would want nothing to do with OSU. BS

I am glad to see you speaking up. Out of the 100 or so young people who are a part of the OSU football team it should not be unexpected that an occasional poor decision is made. That is part of maturing.

Jim Tressel came to OSU on the heels of a starting player having a 0.0 gpa in the fall quarter. Had that bowl game been 1 week later, said player would have been academically ineligible. Coach Tressel has taken a program that was in the lower half of the conference in academic standing to the top of the conference and amongst the elite nationally in regards to the program APR.

It is rare that we read news articles about an OSU football player in trouble with law enforcement.

Jim Tressel made a commitment to the program, university and its fan base, that we would be proud of the kids in the classroom (check), in the community (check) and most importantly against m*chigan (check) He has KEPT his commitment. He has kept his word and has been as good an example of what any person could want out of a leader. It is time for OSU fans to show their commitment to Jim Tressel

Kai, quite a list — now go ahead and make a bullet point list for Pete Carroll over the same period of time. Or, hey, I’ll make it easier — do it for Joe Paterno. Every arrest, every incident in a bar, every incident at a party, every incident of player misconduct, whether lawful or academic (which is exactly what you’re do for Tressel here, and you are throwing in cheap innuendo, to boot) — guess what? JoPa’s will be longer. What does that say about JoPa?

Tyler, that was awesome and much needed at this time. Please read my letter on Bucknuts and Rivals to coach Tressel and to you and your teammates. I reiterate many of your exact sentiments. I have a tremendous amount of respect for you, because you have the courage to stand by your coach and teammates. You are a BEAST Tyler. And now we all know that is true of you both on and off the field. Keep it up Tyler – take a leadership roll. You exemplify what it means to be a Buckeye football player. GO BUCKS!!

Kai,that was stupidest waste of time list anyone has ever put together! First,it’s NOT Jim Tressel’s track record. 99% of that list are things that aren’t his fault and things he had no direct control over. And to list all of those underage drinking charges,really? You are that sad of a person? Couldn’t you find a list of football players that got parking tickets or had overdue library books too?
You cherry picked and presented things out of context to make Tressel look as bad as possible. You listed things that kids did before they became Buckeyes or after their time at Ohio State was over. You listed things that players did but don’t mention that they were kicked off the team for their actions. You listed all of the accusations made by Maurice Clarett but fail to mention how he later took back those statements or how they were all looked into by the NCAA who found no wrong doing by Ohio State. You also fail to mention how Clarett has a great relationship with Jim Tressel, who despite all of the things that Maurice did to damage the program, has helped him get his life back together.
I could go on,but I won’t. Kai,I know you are really pleased with yourself for posting your little “track record” but believe me, that list tells us a lot more about you than it does Jim Tressel.
Tyler,Buckeye Nation is proud of you!

Nice article Tyler! Buckeye Nation loves you! In response to that list of Kai, now please make one for all other major programs for us to compare. I promise you that ours is the smallest list by far. Do some more research and look at how much more we self report than any other program and then try telling me again about what kind of person Tressel is. Bottom line is no one can stop KIDS in COLLEGE from drinking and doing some of these things. Get a life..

Who cares Kai about most of the stuff you posted? What does Monus and his charges have to do with Tressel? Also, the last sentence is saying Tressel wouldn’t help and this is according to who? I mean you give us no information on where you got this from. I assume those were comments made by Isaac and we should listen to him why??? I am sure people who are kicked off the team like Clarett would say something bad about the team or program. Next, you will want us to believe every word out of Ray Small’s mouth….oh wait you already do…

December 18, 1995: Michael Monus is convicted of one count of conspiracy, two counts of bank fraud, five counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, two counts of filing false income tax returns, 96 counts of interstate transportation of stolen goods, and one count of obstruction of justice. He is sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison. Shortly before this, Monus and Isaac are both implicated in the bribing of a juror in Monus’s first trial, which resulted in a hung jury. During this time, Isaac reaches out to Tressel for help, but Tressel distances himself, saying he doesn’t want to know anything and Isaac should simply cooperate with authorities.

Of course a national dot com writer wouldnt care less about this blog because it doesn’t fit the witch hunting agenda. Next week will be yet another front page story about the allegations Ohio St already self reported

Thanks Tyler for your honesty & insight into “our” program. I wish others were as courageous as you. You are a true HERO. Can’t wait to see you flying around this fall crashing into anyone who gets in your way.

The desperation of some michigan fans (Kai) that rely on factually incorrect, misrepresentations about exaggerated opinions and irrrelevant untruths – just so they can gain a little bit of self respect. Lets not forget that it has been 2746 days since Michigan’s last victory over Ohio State in football..

tyler:
do you think there is a culture of entitlement within the football program? why do you think players are taking on debts and expenses they cannot afford or even need? you stated how you do without when you have to. other players with families who are financially worse off than yours seem to be taking on debts that they seemingly cannot afford. is it possible that they know the money will come to them one way or another?

on another note, why do you need your parents to pay health insurance? isn’t that all included under your scholarship?

Tressel does all the easy things: photo ops, speeches, book signings etc. to build his reputation. He often fails the harder tests of character, however, and for his lies and coverups he will be remembered. Remember, our values are most important in difficult times, not easy ones.

Tressel made a mistake, but has still not owned up to it. If he were to say “I failed to declare several of my players ineligible, despite knowing their wrongdoings, because I wanted to protect the team at large, the coaches, and myself from the possibility of a diminished football season; for this I am sorry,” I would still have respect for the man. He did no such thing. Tressel is the ultimate “fake Buckeye,” and a sanctimonious prick. Fire Tressel; Go Bucks!

[…] Tyler Moeller on the OSU drama: “I think many people, because of this new age of social media, have this perception that there is this big underground black market of Ohio State Football memorabilia sold by CURRENT Ohio State football players. People believe we live our “lavish” lifestyles because of special discounts and selling of personal items. I guess if Ray Small is a credible resource to get all your information from then these are probably a figment of your imagination….” [TylerTime26] […]

Alot of us have walked in the shoes of the young men you talk about. Its no excuse. Their selfishness knows no bounds. If they have that hard of a time dealing with success and the spot light, tell them to keep their asses at home and don’t even bother wasting the University’s time, money and energy.

You may not remember me, but I’m Zach Wallace’s little sister. He’s a friend of Mike’s.. I also was the “manager” of the football team for two years at CHS.

What you just said was perfect. I’d like to throw in my two cents and say that when my Step-father, the most die-hard OSU fan ever, was diagnosed with cancer, it blew our family, and every one who knew Everett, away. As you know, he coached many, many boys into men through coaching them football. Everett never missed one OSU game when he was sick, at least not that I know of. Even if it was a “Chemo Day”, he still had the couch all to himself. On Christmas Eve of 09, he had a seizure, and later ound the cancer in his brain, BUT! That night, before the bad, Mr. Smith, Connor, Spencer, and Mackenzie came to our house randomly. Connor said things along the lines of “We heard that you were sick, Coach, and we’ve been praying for you.. We know you’ll beat this, but we love you.” Then he pulled out an Ohio State football in it’s box, signed by every single football player and Jim tressel himself. Everett cried.
I dont thingk any gift ever meant that much to him. Mr. Tressel wrote “Everett, Keep fighting! GO BUCKS! – Jim Tressel”

It’s been over a year since Everett passed away, and that football still sits in our living room, in a glass case, for the whole house to see. Ohio State is not just about football, or academics, even though they are greatly known and resepcted. It’s about family, purpose, tradition, faith, and doing what you can to make a difference.

I now live in TN, and surrounded by Orange and White lol. I can’t seem to stomach taking off my scarlet and grey and trading it in. I have never really had a reason to be an OSU fan, never went there or lived in Columbus- but i have seen the way that stadium fills, and the way people come together to cheer for a College football team. It’s almost scary. I will be an OSU fan for the rest of my life, because I DO know what it is all about.. You guys work hard and deserve to have a damn picture of yourself if you want.

Well said, Tyler. I can’t wait to see you and the rest of the Silver Bullets come out this year and lay the wood to the B10 with a special welcome for Nebraska. Sorry to see The Vest go, I truly think he was trying to do the right thing for his players. Now Buckeye Faithful, it is time to get behind one bad ass Buckeye and give Coach Fickell our undying support as he takes over leadership of our beloved program. He has proven himself worthy of our confidence both on the field and on the sidelines. Go Bucks.

What a wonderful blog Tyler! I certainly appreciate you sharing your thoughts and views on the matter. I wish more of us could look through your eyes at the whole situation. This is a troubling time for OSU but we’ll be ok. I wish you the best this season. GO BUCKS!!!!

Tyler, you are right, since tressel does community service and goes to church early, noone should dare write about how he committed the cardinal sin for an NCAA coach. He knew about violations, didn’t tell anyone except terrelle prior’s handler, and then lied about it to Ohio state and NCAA investigators. When you write books about how ethical you are, you are going to get a lot of criticism when you get caught in a lie. This is not one small mistake, he had a history of these type of investigations going back to Youngstown state. Other schools that get caught having a culture of cheating also are harshly criticized in the media(auburn, USC) as well they should be. The guy finally got caught and he’s paying the price, tressell and osu have created all of the negative publicity by their actions, it honestly makes all osu fans look really bad when they try to keep defending or justifying his actions by saying genus s nice guy or everyone else cheats. Osu did this to themselves and now have to pay the price.

I have been a fan of yours during your career but i will say you seem to be as level headed and respectful as we could ask during all of this turmoil. I am pulling for you and your team mates to overcome this and come out with your head held high. I beleive in Coach Fickle and you are in good hands. Go Bucks

I’m not a huge football fan, to be honest, and OSU’s status as a Big Ten school in football and basketball is the number one reason I chose not to go there. But my whole family are huge Buckeye fans, and I went to OU, which could basically be considered a branch campus of Ohio State on Saturdays during football season. But I digress. What’s at issue here is the persecution Coach Tressel and you players are facing since this situation came to light.

Even as someone who regularly complains about how much time, energy and resources major athletic programs take away from academics at colleges and universities, I still think it’s wrong that you all aren’t paid for your work. In every way that counts, you’re all PROFESSIONAL athletes. You’re expected to perform like professionals, and you face the same media scrutiny that professionals face. If you mess up, you get slammed like professionals. But you’re expected to do it for free. In my humble opinion, that’s twelve kinds of ridiculous. You’re expected to do the job of a professional with all the responsibilities and negative consequences, but none of the privileges.

I think many of your detractors and many of the people deriding Coach Tressel so much are under the mistaken impression that college football players are living these “lavish lifestyles” you mentioned. The truth is that not only are you not living high on the hog, many players aren’t even on scholarship. And despite what *some* people have said in their comments, wanting a cell phone and a car is NOT unreasonable for a college student in the United States. And if the players weren’t making money off merchandise using THEIR names and likenesses, someone else was- not the least of which is The Ohio State University and the NCAA. Not to trivialize the tragedy of slavery, but even some slaves were allowed to hire themselves out for wages after they’d done everything their owner needed and wanted. So you guys aren’t even allowed that?

Don’t get me wrong, what those kids did was wrong, and they knew it was wrong when they were doing it. But as you said in your blog, everyone isn’t lucky enough to have parents who can subsidize their lives while they play college football. And it’s not like they could get jobs. Who’d hire a kid with availability as restricted as a college football player? They can’t work Fridays because half the games are away and they’ll be gone. They can’t work Saturdays because they have games. They don’t want to work Sundays because they’re tired from Saturday’s game. They can only work 2 hours a night Monday through Thursday between classes and practices. Yeah, that’ll TOTALLY work.

And not knowing anything about the specific players who brought this scrutiny to the program, but I know for a fact (having gone to high school with some guys who ended up on the OSU football and basketball teams) that some of these guys have kids. Some of these guys are their entire family’s last, best hope for a way out of poverty. I’d like to see some of the so-called adults jumping on you all living up to all these expectations and doing it for FREE. You all have the responsibilities of Rothlisberger and Ward with NONE of the privileges, and that’s wrong on I don’t know how many levels. The NCAA *and* most, if not all Big Ten schools could afford to pay their football and basketball players *at least* what the kids in the dining halls make, if not more, with the MILLIONS they bring in from merchandising, marketing, ticket sales and licensing. If EA used MY likeness in a video game, I’D get paid, not my mom or dad, not my high school, not the OHSAA, *me.* And if they paid you all, most of these problems would go away. Not all, because some kids are greedy, and will never have enough until they really are making millions in the NFL or NBA. But the ones who are doing it to pay rent, utilities and buy food? Well, if the school/NCAA is giving them that, they wouldn’t need to break the rules, now would they?

Like I said, I went to OU, but I’m a Bobcat by choice. I’m a Buckeye by birth, and scarlet and grey run through my veins by heredity. Keep your head up, kid! REAL Buckeye fans have your back.

So, Tyler, you’re saying that you don’t know of any players who are trading their precious baubles for cash? You’re telling me that you didn’t know that a number of your teammates were going to Fine Line to hang out with Rife on a regular basis? Are you also saying that you didn’t wonder how some of your teammates were getting their hands on nice cars?

I find that hard to believe. I worked on campus for a number of years and just off of campus for a few more. Over the years I’ve seen a number of football players out and about and I always wondered what was up with their cars. I also wondered how so many of them got into nice apartments in neighborhoods nobody associates with the campus area.

At the end of the day, we have proof that a lot of guys were breaking the rules and that Jim Tressel tried to cover it up. Then he lied to his superiors and the NCAA to protect himself from the repercussions. His actions prove that he is not an honorable man. He is a cheater and a liar and he brought shame to OSU. End of story. ‘

You need to check on your own honor and integrity. If you knew players were cheating the system and violating NCAA rules, you had an obligation to report them to the compliance office. In standing by and allowing this to happen, you made matters worse and you let the University down. Bully for you if you didn’t do it, but shame on you for allowing your teammates and coach to put the program in the position it is today.

I bet at your workplace you wouldn’t get publicized on television or fired for an ethics violation of not reporting what your coworkers did, unless it was theft/harassment/murder. And if you were a freaking politician, you would still be in office.

I find it funny how everybody in America holds higher standards for people in power than they do for themselves. I bet you don’t spend half of your time volunteering or giving back to your community. In fact, I bet you live your life in an accustomed malaise that’s only temporarily lifted when you express your unwanted opinions over the internet.

The types of things you were describing about noticing players is interesting. In some cases it’s called assumptions. In other cases it’s called profiling. Neither are reasons to draw up conspiracy theories (ref SI article). Yet you are suggesting that a player under Coach Tressel for 5 years knows less about the situation than you, a casual campus observer? GTFO. Do the internet a favor and donate your computer.

Kids like this will be Jim Tressel’s legacy. The media will continue to have their fun, but we can take pride in knowing that our program, the Ohio State University football program, is producing fine young men like Tyler Moeller. Go kick ass this year Tyler! Buckeye Nation has your back!

“You need to check on your own honor and integrity. If you knew players were cheating the system and violating NCAA rules, you had an obligation to report them to the compliance office. In standing by and allowing this to happen, you made matters worse and you let the University down. Bully for you if you didn’t do it, but shame on you for allowing your teammates and coach to put the program in the position it is today.”

– Steve Croyle…….I think you need to look in the mirror and start with yourself. Right now if you know of someone in college or in your neighborhood who smokes pot ( and I bet you do) turn them in. All the people who have illegal song downloads, turn them in. Next time some one is going 56 in a 55mph zone turn them in and by the way turn yourself in as no can ever say that they have never exceeded the speed limit.

If a person purposely doesn’t hang out at those types of places they would never know what types of activities are going on. And as Tyler states not everyone is doing it, only a few. Its not their job to police other players.

I wonder how some of my neighbors can afford and justify the latest “S” Class Mercedes, but unless I have proof that they are running a Meth lab, it is none of my business. Not my job to police my neighbors.

Go ahead and let me know after you have turned in all your friends and neighbors who have done anything remotely illegal. Go ahead……….

The points you make don’t even begin to compare because I’m not bound by a code of ethics to report my neighbors. A better comparison would be to relate this matter to the workplace. If I have coworkers who are doing something that is potentially detrimental to the company I would report them to my superiors.

Tyler is entirely out of line in his post. He’s lashing out at Ray Small and Mark Titus but the only person he should be upset with is Tressel. Had Tressel done the honorable thing and reported the issue to the compliance office, he’d still be employed, the NCAA would be satisfied witht he 5 game suspensions and the other allegations wouldn’t have been stirred up.

Everybody on the team, however, is guilty of creating a culture of acceptance.

You are assuming that everyone knew, I bet most players did not know. In fact most of them were shocked as they would never even think of selling their Gold Pants. If you don’t hang around those types of people and would never do those types of things yourself, you don’t expect others to as well. Tradition is for players give their Gold Pants to their Moms, unfortunately a few didn’t.

It is easy for someone to say in hindsight that everyone should have known, looking back there are a few things that compliance should have caught. But how would another player know if the Gold Pants were sold? The players don’t wear them.

I had a Freshman Roomate who was arrested one morning on 12 counts of burglery and forging stolen checks. Even looking back in 20-20 hindsight I had “0” clue that he was doing this. Why? Because he hid it from me……..

I think you are being to harsh, his whole point was not everyone is doing it and that the Media is throwing everyone under the bus. Only a few deserve it and Ray Small said “everyone”.

Good stuff man! This whole thing hurts bad right now. I hate to see Tressel take the fall for a few bad apples, but that’s the type of coach he is. It’s a sad day when a Buckeye would trade his gold pants for a tattoo. Makes me wonder if they are truly worthy of the name Buckeye in the first place.

Tressel didn’t take the fall for anybody. His NCAA violation was the worst of all, regardless of why he did it. He lied to the NCAA and his superiors and, at that point, he had no reason for doing so other than to protect his own butt.

You are correct that Tressel should have done the right thing. But the few “bad apples” were the catalyst for the situation. I think that is what most people mean when they say he took the fall for the bad apples.

Very well put. As a former player I totally agree. Woody Hayes and Earle Bruce were also great men who taught more than just football to their players.

You will have the honor of some day sharing your gold pants and Big Ten Championship rings with your family! Some of your teammates won’t because some guy in New Albany, NY will have bought them off an auction website!

Get one of the tutors that OSU provides for student athletes to proofread your posts. It’s a sad day when a person who doesn’t know the difference between then and than can graduate from such a prestigious institution of higher education.

For the sake of establishing common ground, I think that it is ridiculous that athletes see any of the money that is made from their labor and can’t even sell the “gifts” given to them. It goes against everything I’ve ever learned about property rights. If I graduate law school I think that this would be a really good test case to try to bring into court. I don’t attend OSU law school, but I’m sure that some professor or group of students would make a name for themselves if they tried to bring this case. Athletes in revenue generating really are treated like modern day slaves. (White people were slaves in Greece so please don’t construe this last comment as me playing the race card)

How’s the work going on wind sprints Ty? I’m expecting to see number 26 goin’ on a Jack Tatum campaign to wrap up his career.

Just want you to know, the haters gonna hate, and there’s just no accounting for stupid in some of the small minds that claim to be Buckeye fans. 2011, the year of the Silver Bullets Scorched Earth Defense.

Most people probably don’t care that much that players sold memorabilia or whatever. The issue is that Coach Tressel lied when he signed his forms stating he didn’t know of anything, continued to conceal actions that were against NCAA policies, then kept repeatedly lying about what he knew.

I’m sure he’s done a lot for players and the community, but he sure has stained his legacy with such a ridiculously stupid set of actions.

Tyler….Thank you for the kind words. The stories that are coming out now regarding the kind, generous, and compassionate actions of Coach Tressel when he isn’t on the field make my heart soar. One mistake shouldn’t define a man any more than 10 years of football success should. A man should be defined by his character, and Jim Tressel’s character speaks volumes. I understand why you didn’t comment at first, but kudos to you for making your opinion known. Good luck this season…my thoughts and prayers go with you and the rest of the team in the face of challenges that lie ahead. God bless.

I already commented about my feelings on how these kids might have felt moved to do what they did. I still stand by the fact that they shouldn’t have done it, but understand why they did. I still think that you had the right of it, and you’re also totally right about how it’s wrong that so many people make money off you guys and you can’t even get a freebie calendar OF YOURSELVES.

So, in light of the fact that I think the NCAA is treating you all like indentured servants, I will no longer be supporting them with my discretionary dollars. I won’t be buying ANYTHING NCAA for ANY sport. I know I’m only one person, but at least this way I feel like I’m doing something to address the injustice I’m witnessing. And if enough people do what I’m doing, for the reasons I’m doing it, and tell the NCAA about it, maybe they’ll kick you guys out some of what they’re making and people won’t feel the need to cheat the system.

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